Carcass-scrubber.



PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. SMITH.

GARGASS SGRUBBBR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 8. 1906.

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

C. L. SMITH.

CARGASS SCRUBBER.

APPLICATION FILED ooT..19oe.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nnmmlunn F PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

No. 882,719. l Q L. SMITH,

GARGASS SGRUBBBR. APPLICATION FILED 0013.8. 1906. 7 SHEETS SEET 5.

figg.

No. 882,719. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

C. L. SMITH.

CARGASS SGRUBBER.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.8. 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

No. 882,719. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908. G. L. SMITH.

CARGASS SGRUBBER.

APPLICATION FILED ooms. 190s.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

1,15 @l llingaround suitable sprocket wheels and are UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

CARLTON L. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR TO ARMOUR & COMPANY,Oli CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

cARcAss-SCRUBBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

To all 'whom ,it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARLTON L. SMrrn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago,v in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Carcass-Scrubbers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is the Aproduction or a brushing or scrubbingmachine for cleaning carcasses of animals, particularly the dressedhalvesof steers er beeves.

When the bodies are brushed and cleanedv by hand ina large slaughteringestablishment the services of a number of workmen are required toperform the work, and considerable' strength and care is necessary towash oiiand cleanse the carcasses including the bruised parts of thebody so that they will present as little blemish as possible. By the useof my in'iproved power-driven scrubber the services of the brushing menmay be dispensed with and the work is performed more quickly andsatisfactorily than when manually done. In order to brush and Wash allparts of the body, both the outer and the inner split side, includingthe deep recesses or hollows on the latter side, to clean the exposedportions of bones, and to remove thel blood, the scrubber is made orbuilt up of a number oi traveling brushing devices each adapted to brushdownwardly and clean a particular portion of the body and each dis osedat the proper angle to most efficient y perform its function. Preferablythe brushes of each device .are

mounted on endless sprocket chains passdisposed substantially uprightperforming, while supplied witha spray of water, the brushing operationdownwardl on the body which dependsfrom aftrave ing conveyer carryingthe half bodies through theiields of operation of the various brushingdevices. Desirably each brushing device, which comprises a number ofbrushes fastened to the inks of a pair of sprocket chains, and itsoperating mechanism is mounted on a frame adjustable toward and from thecarcass whereby an effective cleaning of the carcasses of vairous sizesmay be obtained.

Although a greater or less number of brush-l ing devices may be used ascircumstances require, in a machine in actual operation I have provideda brushing mechanism for each of the following named parts of thebody-liip joint, shoulder joint, outside of shank or leg, split side ofshank or leg, hip' and side, u per part of split side, outer surface ofshou der, inner side of shoulder, outer side of neck, and inner side ofneck.

In the accompanyin drawings, which form a part of this speci cation, Ihave illustrated in detail a desirable embodiment of my invention,l andin the various views of said drawings like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout.

Figure 1 is a plan view ot a portion of a complete carcass scrubber andcleaner embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of tlie'remainderof the scrubbing device with certain parts omitted for the sake ofclearness, Figs. 1 and 2, when placed end t0 end, illustrating asubstantially complete plan of the machine Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionon line 3-3 of Fig. l as viewed in the direction indicated by thearrows, certain minor parts being omitted for the sake of clearness,Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 as viewed in thedirection indicated by .the arrows, parts being omitted; Fig. 5 is asection on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 5 Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portionof the machine and illustrates a half of a split carcass being o eratedupon by the brushing device for t e s lit side of the shoulder; Fig. 7is a side elevation of another portion of the machine as viewed fromlthe opposite side of the device, and shows the outer side of thecarcass being scrubbed by the shoulder brushing means Fig. 8 is avertical section through the conveyer illustrating the details of itsconstruction; Fig. 9 isa side elevation of` one of the brushes; Fig. 10is an end view of the same; and Fig. 1] is aview showing the back of thebrush. j

The scrubbing and cleaning machine illustrated includes a conveyer fortransporting or moving the split carcass along in a depending conditionin combination with a,

number of brushing devices much alike in structure and operation, thevarious brushing mechanisms cleanin different sections of the bodies asthey pass t ough their fields of operation. The conveyor is mounted onthe under side of anoverhoad horizontal beam and includes a pair ofparallel Z-shaped -bars21 [Fig 8] supported at intervals along beam 20by brackets 22, the u per outwardly extended flanges of parallel ars 21resting on and being supported by the brackets while their lowerinwardly projected flanges form a supporting trackway for a travelingchain 23 [Fig 7] which has attached to it at intervals lateral arms 24to each of'whichisl pivoted a nger 25 [Fig 8]. lSupported on thebrackets 22, or in any other convenient manner, is a plate 26 disposedin a vertical plane to form a track along the top edge of which thetrolleys or carrlers conveying the v33, 34, 35, 36,37, 33 and 39.

bodies to be scrubbed may travel. Each trolley or transporting carrierincludes a bracket arm 27 having agrooved wheel 28 at its upper` endadapted to ride on the top edge of track 26 and'having at its lower enda sharp hook-29 which is thrust through the gamb of the longitudinalhalf of the carcass. Fingers 25 by engaging the rear edges of car.-riers 27 cause the latter with their loads to travel along track 26 at auniform speed. 20l

the carcass and act upon the outside of the hip andl shoulder joints,respectively, to brush and clean any bruises at those points, theseportions of the animal being most subl ject to injury duringtransportation in the cattle cars or at other times in the pens. Thestaggered brushing devices 32 and 33 next operate upon the outer sideand split or inner side of the leg or shank, and afterwards brushes 34and 35 clean, respectively, the outer surface of the hip and side andthe upper part of the split side of the creature. The outer and innersides of the shoulder and neck, respectively, are scrubbed by brushingdevices 36, 37, 38 and 39, respectively. As will be observed from thevarious views of the drawings these brushing devices are disposed atdifferent angles to most efficiently and effectively scrub that portionof the carcass for which each is intended, and inasmuch as thesebrushing devices are substantially alike, except for size andinclination, a

complete description of the mechanical structure and functions of onewill suflice forall.

Spaced apart and lying parallel on the floor are longitudinal woodensills or beams 40` and disposed at intervals are upright osts 41 whic attheir top ends support the orizontal beams 42, the latter beingconnected to the center support v2O by means of T- bars 43. Theupstanding flanges of T-bars 43 form tracks, and at vthe lower part ofthe structure the/center beam 40 is connected to the outer side sills4() by other -shaped tracks 44. Each ad'ustable brushing device includesa pair of incliined or vertical supports each of these members 45 aretwo bars 48 ,and 49 each equipped for a portion of its ,length with arack 50 and 51 respectively.

Rotatably mounted in bearings 52 on the outer surfaces of the uprightvposts 41 are shafts 53 having grooved twin rollers 54 adapted to engagethe upper surfaces of bars 48 and 49 to prevent the same from rising orbecoming displaced. Beneath each rack 50 on bars 48 suitably mounted inbearings 55 is a shaft 56 having near its center a sprocket wheel 57 andat each end a pinion 58 meshing with the racks 50 above them. Near thelower portion of the structure beneath racks 51 is a similar shaft 59with a sprocket Wheel 60 and pinions 61 coperating with the racks. Asprocket chain 62 asses around the two sprocket wheels 57 an 60 so thatthe rotation of the lower one is transmitted to the upper shaft. At oneend shaft 59 has a gear 63 meshing with apinion 64 on a lower shaft 65provided at its o posite end witha hand wheel 66. It will Ibe apparentfrom this construction that by turning hand wheel 66 and the variousgears, sprocket wheels and chain, supports 45 may be fed inwardly andoutwardly to the proper adjustment.

The pair of supports 45 have on their inner surfaces bearings forshaftsl 67 and 68, the

bearing for shaft 67 being adjustable up and.

down by a manually actuatedscrew 69 so that the s rocket chain70fpassing over the two sproc et Wheels 71 on shaft 67 and'72 on s aft68 may be tightened as occasion demands As shown there aretwo sprocketchains 70 and two wheels 71 and 72.

Each link 73 of sprocket chains 70 has a lateral projection 74` [Figs 9,10 and 11] attached to an end of the back of a comparatively long brush75. It will thus be ap arent that as the sprocket chains 7() w ich carrythe series of brushes are caused to travel the brushes will likewisetravel so as to brush the carcass downwardly, as shown in the variousviews. 0n each side of the machine at its top is a driving 'shaft 76whose rotation is transmitted to shaft 68 by means of s rocket wheels 77and 7 8 in connection wit sprocket chain 79. By driving shaft 68 insteadof shaft 67 the portion of the brush chains next to the body 1smaintained taut.

Above each brushing device ata suitable height is a horizontalperforated water pipe 8() connected .by means of a flexible hose or tube81 with a water-main 82. By means of this arrangement a constant s rayor shower of water is fed to each brushing .device so that itsscrubbinrJr operation may be com lete and thorough. To prevent thecarcass swinging or moving away'fromthe rapidly traveling brushes I 83op osite each of e brushing devices, the same eing most clearly shown inFigs. 1, 2,3, 6 and 7. It is necessary to make these bars or yokes 83yadjustable and a convenient arrangement to effect this result is theaper-v tured bearingsimounted on the supports 45, the bars havingrearward extensions 85 to (pass through the-apertures of bearings 84 Ian held in place by set screws 86. One side ofthe carcass slides albngbar 83 while its opposite side is being scrubbed whereby the body isrevented-from swing/ing away from the brus es.

` As stated above, the .various brushing de.`

rcally or inclined only s ightly, as will be readily apparent from aninspection of the' drawings. `When the carcasses to be acted upon arelarger and thicker or smaller and thinnervthanusual the brushing devicesmay be vmoved outwardly or inwardly the-proper amount by the adjustmentmeans described so as to most effectually perform the cleansingoperation. In Fig. 3 I have shown the brushes acting upon an lunusuallylarge carcass and the brushingI devices in said figure' have been movedback a small amount to accommodate the extra large body.

I prefer to make the brushes with comparatively long bristles, as shownin Figs. 9 and 10, in order that they may reach to the bottom of therecesses on the split side of the carcass ,and-pro e`rl clean the same,

To those skil ed 1n the art it will be yapparent that minor changes maybe made 1n the mechanical details of the machine without departing fromthe substance of my invention, and the following'claims are invoo tendedto cover all such modifications obvious to those acquainted with thisart.

.Y Although I have illustrated and described my invention as beingapplicable for scrubbing the halves of dressed. beeves, it is to beunderstood that my invent to such use but may be employed for brushingand cleaning the carcasses of hogs, sheep, calves, etc., either whole orafter being cut into parts.

I claim: y

1. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a plurality of brushingdevices adapted to clean different portions of the carcass, each of saidbrushing devices including afsprocket chain or belt adapted Vto traveland one or more brushes secured thereto, the field of operation of eachof said brushing devices being at substantially the same angle as the.

general angle of that part of the carcass surface operated upon thereby,and means I'ovide a horizontal bar I ion is not limited to conveycarcasses or parts thereof in a vtion of said brushing devices,substantially as described.

2. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a pluralityv of brushingdevices adapted to clean different portions of the carcass, each of saidbrushing'devices including a sprocket chain or belt adapted to traveland one or more brushes securedthereto, the field of operation of eachof said brushing devices being fixed vand at substantially the sameangle as thegeneral angle of that part of the carcass surface operatedupon thereby, and means to convey carcasses or parts thereof in adefinite position through the fields of operation of said brushingdevices, substan- 'tially as described.

3. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a plurality of ybrushingdevices adapted to clean'dlfierent portions of the carcass, each of saidbrushing devices including a sprocket lbeing at substantially thesameangle as the 'eneral angle of that part of the carcass surace operatedupon thereby, and means to convey carcasses or parts thereof in adefinite position through the fields of operation of said brushingdevices ,transversely to the paths of travel of said brushes,substantially as described.

4. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a plurality ofbrushingdevices adaptedto clean different portions of the carcass by brushingdownwardly, .the field of o eration of each of said devices being fixedan( at substantially the same angle as the general angle of-that part ofthe carcass surface operated upon thereby, and means to convey carcassesin a definite position or parts of carcasses through the fields ofoperation of said brushing devices, said carcasses or parts thereofdepending from said conveying means, substantially as described.

l 5. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a pair of s rocket wheelsadapted to rotate, a sproc et chain co-acting with said sprocket wheels,one or more brushes fastened to said chain, means to revolve one of saidsprocket wheels to actuate said chain and brush or brushes, and means toconvey the carcass to be scrubbed through the field of operation of said4brush or'brushes transversely to the plane of said sprocket chain,substantially as described.

6. In a carcass scrubber, the combination -of apair of rotatable shafts,a palr of sprocket wheels mounted on and rotatable with each of saidshafts, two sprocket chains, each coacting with a sprocket Wheel on eachof said shafts, one or more brushes fastened to both of said chains andadapted to travel therewith, means to revolve one of said shafts,

and means to convey the carcass to be scrubbed through the field ofoperation of said brush or brushes, substantially as described.

7. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a pair of rotatable shafts,a pair of sprocket wheels mounted on and rotatable with each of saidshafts, two sprocket chains each coacting with a sprocket wheel on eachof said shafts, one or more brushes fastened to both of said chains andadapted to travel therewith, means to revolve one of said shafts, andmeans to convey the carcass to be scrubbed through the field ofoperation of said brush or brushes transversely to their path of travel,substantially as described.

8. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a pair of rotatablesprocket wheels, a sprocket chain co-acting with said sprocket wheels,one or more brushes fastened to said chain, means to revolve one of saidsprocket wheels to actuate said chain and brushes, means to convey thecarcass to be scrubbed through the field of operation of said brush f orbrushes, and means to prevent the carcass from swinging away from saidbrushes while being operated upon thereby, substantially as described.

9. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a pair of rotatablesprocket wheels, a sprocket chain co-acting with said sprocket wheels,one or more brushes fastened to said chain, means to revolve one of saidsprocket wheels to actuate said chain and brushes, means to convey thecarcass to be scrubbed through the field of operation of said brush orbrushes transversely to their path of travel, and means to prevent thecarcass from swinging away from said brushes while being operated uponthereby,.substantially as described.

10. In a carcass scrubber, they combination of a frame or support, apair of rotatable sprocket wheels mounted on lsaid frame or support, asprocket chain co-acting with said sprocket wheels, one or more brushesmounted on said chain, means to convey` the carcass through the field ofoperation of said brush or brushes, means to revolve one of saidsprocket wheels to actuate said chain and brush or brushes, and meanstoy adjust said frame toward or from the path of travel of the carcass,substantially as described.

11. In a carcass scrubber, thc combination of a frame or support, a pairof rotatable sprocket wheels mounted on said frame or support, asprocket chain co-acting with said sprocket wheels, one or more brushesmounted on said chain, means to convey the carcass through the field ofoperation of said brush or brushes transversely to their path of travel,means to revolve one o f said sprocket wheels to actuate said cham andbrush or brushes, and ymeans to adjust said frame toward Yor from thepath-of travel of,

the carcass, substantially as described.

12. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a frame jor support, apair of rotatable sprocket wheels mounted thereon, a sprocket chainco-acting with said sprocket Wheels,

one or more brushes mounted on said chain, f

means to revolve one of said sprocket Wheels to actuate said chain andbrush or brushes, means toy convey carcasses through the field yofoperation of said brush or brushes, onel brushes, means to conveycarcasses throughthe field of operation of said brush or brushestransversely to their path of travel, one or more tracks on which saidframe or support is adapted to travel to secure adjustments of saidbrush or brushes, and means to cause said frame or support to travel onsaid track or tracks, substantially as described.

14. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a plurality of brushingdevices adapted to clean different portions of the carcass, the field ofoperation of each of said devices being fixed and at substantially thesame angle as the general angle of that part of the carcass surfaceoperated upon thereby, and means to convey carcasses in a definiteposition through the fields of operation of said brushing devices,substantially as described.

15. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a plurality of brushing`devices adapted to clean different portions of the carcass, the fieldof operation of each of said devices being fixed and at substantiallythe same angle as the general angle of that part of the carcass surfaceoperatedL upon thereby, and means to convey carcasses in a definiteposition through the fields of operation of said brushing devices, saidcarcasses depending from said conveying means, substantially asdescribed.

16. In a carcass scrubber, the combination of a plurality of brushingdevices adapted to clean different portions of the carcass, the field ofoperation of each of said devices being at substantially the same angleas the general angle of that part of the carcass surface operated uponthereby, and means to convey carcassesin a definite lposition throughthe fields of operation ofsaid brushing devices, said carcassesdepending from said conveying means, substantiall as described.

17. In a carcass scrub er, the combination y ield of operation of eachof-said devices beof a plurality of brushing devices adapted to cleandifferent portions of the carcass, the

ing ijed and at substantially thesame angle as the general angle of thatpart of the carcass surface operated Vupon thereby, and means to conveycarcasses in a definite position through the fields of operation of saidbrushing devices transversely thereto, the carcasses depending from saidconveying means, substantially as described.

18. In, a carcass scrubber, the combination of a plurality of brushingdevices adapted to clean different portions of the carcass, the 1 ieldofoperation of each of said devices being fixed and at substantiallyv thesame angle as the general angle of that part of the carcass surfaceoperated upon, each of said brushing devices including a sprocket chainor belt adapted to travel and one or more brushes secured thereto, andmeans to convey. carcasses or.parts thereof in'a definite positionthrough the fields of operation of said brushing devices transversely tothe paths of travel of said brushes, said 'carcasses or parts dependingfrom said conveying means, substantially as described.

CARLTON L. SMITH.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. STAGER, ABRAM B. STRATroN.

